Issue - meetings

To consider the responses to the consultation exercise on fees & charges and to determine the fees to be charged by the Council in relation to the licensing of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators.

Further to Minute No. 58, Mr Fidler was invited to address the Committee with respect to the proposed fees and charges.  His comments included details of differences in practice between the licensing departments of the three former borough councils, which had resulted in dissatisfaction amongst the licensed trade.  Mr Fidler also queried whether the proposed fees and charges had been calculated on the basis of reliable information.

The Committee considered a report detailing the responses received from the licensed trade regarding the proposed fees to be charged by Cheshire East Council in relation to the licensing of hackney carriage vehicles and drivers and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators which had been approved for statutory consultation on 22 May 2009.

The Interim Places Accountant responded to Mr Fidler’s comments and presented the Council’s response to a letter of representation dated 1 July 2009, which had been appended to the report at Appendix H.  Cheshire East had approved a single consolidated budget for 2009/10 but did not yet have an integrated costs and recharging system.  The proposed fees would require a subsidy of £85,000 to £134,000, depending on the number of licences issued, and costs would be reviewed in a year’s time.

RESOLVED - That the fees to be charged by Cheshire East Council in relation to the licensing of hackney carriage vehicles and drivers within each of the three zones and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators throughout the Borough with effect from 1 August 2009 be as follows:

Hackney Carriage Vehicle (Annual)            £290

Private Hire Vehicle (Annual)            £290

6 month test  (hackney carriage)            £75

(vehicles over 7 years old)

6 month test  (private hire vehicle)            £75

(vehicles over 7 years old)

Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire     £210 (including CRB fee)

Drivers Licence – New application

(3 years)

Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire      £150 (including CRB fee)

Drivers Licence – Renewal

(3 years)

Private Hire Operators Licence          £335

(5 years)